Air Passenger Duty

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what steps the Government has taken in response to the Resolution of the House of 1 November 2012 calling for a comprehensive review of air passenger duty;
	(2)  how much revenue has been raised through air passenger duty in each year since its introduction;
	(3)  what proportion of revenue raised through air passenger duty in each year since its introduction has been raised on routes to and from Northern Ireland.

Sajid Javid: HM Revenue and Customs does not collect information on the contribution to air passenger duty (APD) revenues made from flights to or from specific airports. The published statistics on APD, including historic information on revenues from the duty, are available at:
	https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/TaxAndDutyBulletins.aspx
	The Government has no plans to undertake a comprehensive review of APD at this point. The Government has limited the rise in APD to inflation over the period 2010-11 to 2012-13. Budget 2012 set out rates from April 2013, which will also only rise in line with inflation, ensuring that level of APD will again remain constant in real terms. The Chancellor keeps all taxes under review and considers them in the round.

Telephone Services

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department's customer service telephone lines are restricted to those beginning 0870.

Sajid Javid: HM Treasury does not have any 0800, 0808, 0844, 0845 or 0870 customer service telephone lines. The Debt Management Office (DMO), an Executive agency of HM Treasury, have ten 0845 contact numbers provided for the public on its website.

Customs: Animals

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many live animals have been confiscated at UK borders in each of the last five years.

Mark Harper: The most recent published data on seizures by Border Force, which was made available to the Environmental Audit Committee on Wildlife Crime, is as follows:
	
		
			 Seizures of live animals and birds 
			  Number of seizures Number of items seized 
			 2007-08 25 442 
			 2008-09 37 1,212 
		
	
	
		
			 2009-10 21 563 
			 2010-11 8 1,620 
		
	
	The figures and the transcript of the committee hearing can be found at:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmenvaud/140/140.pdf

Credit: Interest Rates

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of a cap on (a) the number of loans and (b) the value of a loan which can be taken out from payday loan companies.

Jo Swinson: Both the Bristol Report and the Office of Fair Trading's (OFT) compliance review provide us with evidence on (a) the number of payday loans and (b) the value of payday loans.
	On (a), the OFT found that, of the 21 lenders accounting for 85% of the market by turnover, an average of 58% of customers took out more than one new payday loan in 2011/12 and 15% of customers took out more than five loans. The Bristol Report found that, of the 788 payday customers surveyed, they had taken out an average of three online payday loans and 5.1 retail payday loans in the last 12 months. On (b), the OFT found that the average payday loan issued in 2011/12 by the 21 lenders surveyed was for an amount between £265 and £270 over 30 days. The Bristol Report's business survey found that the average retail payday loan was typically between £300 and £400 over a loan period of 28 to 31 days while the average online payday loan ranged from £140 to £320 over a loan term of either 30 days or 15 to 20 days.
	Having reviewed these data, Government is concerned about the cost of borrowing associated with such loans. We are also concerned about the levels of repeat borrowing, which suggest consumers are using a short-term credit product for longer term borrowing and therefore potentially exposed to high levels of debt without the means to repay.
	Government has recently set out how we intend to work with the current and future consumer credit regulators to ensure a strong and co-ordinated response to the problems identified, now, as well as from April 2014. This involves tough enforcement action by OFT, as well as immediate work by Government to clamp down on the advertising of payday loans. Government is also strongly pressing industry to improve compliance with the sector's existing voluntary codes and put in place new provisions to address specific areas of concern, notably use of continuous payment authority. Further, the new Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will have tough, responsive and dynamic powers to tackle emerging problems in credit markets quickly and effectively from April 2014. The FCA has committed to prioritise action on payday lending as soon as they take on the regulatory responsibility in April 2014. During the rest of this year, they will consider whether there are gaps in the regulation of payday lending that need to be addressed from April 2014 and will turn existing OFT guidance into rules that are binding on firms.

Enterprise Zones

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what research his Department has commissioned or undertaken on the effectiveness of enterprise zones in promoting economic growth.

Mark Prisk: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.
	When developing the current Enterprise Zone programme, the Department considered the Government evaluation on the economic impacts of Enterprise Zones in the 1980s and 1990s: PA Cambridge Economic Consultants, 1995, Final Evaluation of Enterprise Zones, for the Department for Environment. The Department also considered reviews of the wider research evidence that were produced by Centre for Cities, 2010, 'What Would Maggie Do?'; and The Work Foundation, 2010, ‘Do Enterprise Zones Work?’ This research is publicly available.
	We are currently working closely with Local Enterprise Partnerships in delivering Enterprise Zones. This includes assisting in monitoring the outputs and economic outcomes of Enterprise Zones which will assist the Department in understanding their effectiveness for economic growth.

Higher Education: Barnsley

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people from Barnsley Central constituency went on to university in academic year (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.

David Willetts: The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes data on students at UK higher education institutions (HEIs). The numbers of entrants to UK HEIs who were domiciled in Barnsley Central constituency prior to their course by level of study has been provided in the table for the academic years 2010/11 and 2011/12.
	Information for the 2012/13 academic year will become available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in January 2014.
	
		
			 Entrants(1) domiciled in Barnsley Central constituency(2) prior to their course, UK higher education institutions, academic years 2010/11 and 2011/12 
			 Level of study 2010/11 2011/12 
			 Postgraduate 185 155 
			 Undergraduate 775 770 
			 Total 965 925 
			 (1) Covers all students in their first year of study. (2) Parliamentary constituency is derived from the student's postcode. The boundaries were revised in the 2010 general election. Notes: Figures are based on an HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five, so components may not sum to totals. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record.

Bus Services: Concessions

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of people in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) England who qualify for a disabled person's bus pass that are in receipt of such a pass.

Norman Baker: We estimate that in 2011/12, the latest year for which data is available, there were 748,000 disabled bus passes in circulation in England, of which 33,000 were issued by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive. We do not have an estimate for Barnsley Central. The relevant published tables are BUS0820 and BUS0890 which can be found at-
	https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/bus08-concessionary-travel
	In some Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs), a number of eligible, older disabled people will hold an older person's bus pass instead - in particular, if no discretionary concessions are available in a TCA or if they offer the same to both older and disabled people. For example, if pre-9.30am travel is offered to both older and disabled people then an older disabled person may choose to apply for an older person's pass as eligibility is easier to prove. They will therefore not be included in the figures quoted for disabled passes.
	We do not know the number of people who qualify for a disabled bus pass but do not apply for one.

Remploy

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will instruct the Chief Executive and Board of Remploy in furtherance of valid bids to permit bid officers immediate access to the Data Room;
	(2)  if he will instruct the Chief Executive and Board of Remploy in furtherance of valid bids to permit immediate direct contact between bid officers and authorised workforce representatives and interested staff of Remploy Dundee; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: As you know the commercial process is owned by Remploy and not the Department. It is their process to manage and deliver. Remploy has confirmed that only following submission of an Expression of Interest and once a bidder has signed a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and Conflict of Interest form (if necessary) will parties be given access to the Data Room.
	Site visits will be considered for those bidders who have signed and returned the appropriate NDA and Conflict of Interest documentation. However, this will not give access to any additional commercial information. Remploy and the DWP are clear that any visits be conducted in a way that maintains fairness of the commercial process and does not adversely impact on employees.

Food: Poverty

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will introduce a food poverty measure; and if he will commission an annual review of levels of food poverty in the UK.

David Heath: DEFRA actively monitors retail food prices and their impact on household expenditure through its Family Food Survey. We know that some households are seeing the amount they spend on food increase and there is evidence that households are trading down to cheaper products.
	On average in 2011, food accounted for 11.3% of all household expenditure, an increase from 10.5% in 2007. However, expenditure on food in low income households (the bottom 20%) accounted for 16.6% of all expenditure in 2011. This was 15.2% in 2007.
	We have no plans to conduct any additional measurement of food poverty or to commission annual reviews.
	The Government provides safety nets through welfare to support those on low incomes and out of work. The Government also provides schemes to help the most vulnerable in society afford and have access to nutritious food, such as the Healthy Start scheme. Through schemes like Love Food Hate Waste and Change4life we are helping individuals to plan affordable, nutritious meals and reduce the food they waste.

Horse Passports

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what plans he has in place to improve the process of issuing horse passports;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the efficiency of the horse passport issuing system; and if he will make a statement.

David Heath: The Government remains committed to exploring ways to improve the horse passport system within the framework of European legislation, and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), and my noble Friend the Lord de Mauley met representatives of various equine sectors on 21 February to discuss this. Officials will continue to work with representatives of the sectors to improve the system.

Horses: France

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many horses were (a) imported from and (b) exported to France in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many horses were imported in each of the last five years.

David Heath: Equidae (which includes horses, ponies, asses, mules, donkeys and zebras) moving between European Union member states have to be accompanied by a health certificate and movements are recorded on TRACES (a pan European database). However, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France apply a derogation from these requirements through the Tri-Partite Agreement. TRACES therefore does not record the total number of horse movements between the UK and France.
	Horses imported from France
	Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs record the number of horses imported from France in the last five years, based on VAT returns, as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2012 223 
			 2011 289 
			 2010 288 
		
	
	
		
			 2009 2,985 
			 2008 198 
		
	
	Horses licensed for export to France
	The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) issue export licences for some horse movements to France, but not for thoroughbreds used for racing, breeding and training.
	
		
			  Horses Ponies Totals 
			 2013(1) 336 38 374 
			 2012 5,203 602 5,805 
			 2011 4,843 660 5,506 
			 2010 3,918 953 4,871 
			 2009 4,290 1,003 5,293 
			 (1) Issued up to 1 March. Note: Figures are not available for 2008. 
		
	
	The number of equidae imported from third (non EU) countries and EU countries in each of the past five years is as follows (source TRACES):
	
		
			 Imported from third (non-EU) countries destined for the UK 
			  Number 
			 2012 2,019 
			 2011 6,502 
			 2010 2,013 
			 2009 1,866 
			 2008 2,871 
		
	
	
		
			 Imported from EU member states (other than France and the Republic of Ireland) 
			  Number 
			 2012 3,855 
			 2011 3,483 
			 2010 3,363 
			 2009 3,152 
			 2008 3,878

Marine Conservation Zones

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the Government has not published the report, Contribution of marine protected areas to protecting highly mobile species, MB0114; and if he will publish the report for stakeholders to examine prior to the closure of his Department's consultation on proposals for the designation of marine conservation zones.

Richard Benyon: A copy of the draft report of the Marine Protected Areas and Mobile Species desk study (MB0114) is available on DEFRA's website:
	http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu= Menu&Module=More&Location=None&Completed= 0&ProjectID=18033

Meat: Ritual Slaughter

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on the clear labelling of non-stun slaughtered animals.

David Heath: DEFRA consulted on measures to implement Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 (on the protection of animals at the time of killing) during September and October 2012. Although outside the scope of the consultation, many consultees confirmed their support for the introduction of method of slaughter labelling. We are currently considering the responses received and will be publishing a summary of the responses together with the Government's response to all the points made. Separately, DEFRA has, and continues to receive, a regular flow of correspondence on this issue from members of the public and others with an interest.

Meat: Ritual Slaughter

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will discuss with (a) abattoirs, (b) the meat trade, (c) the retail sector, (d) the veterinary sector, (e) consumers and (f) religious groups the clear labelling of non-stunned before slaughter meat products.

David Heath: I discussed method of slaughter labelling with representatives of the British Veterinary Association at a meeting on 7 March 2013. Labelling was also one of the topics raised during a meeting between DEFRA, Food Standards Agency and Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) officials and representatives of the Jewish and Muslim Communities which took place on 14 March 2013. DEFRA officials also attended a meeting with the Sikh Council UK on 27 February 2013 which was hosted by DCLG, and which discussed method of slaughter labelling issues.
	I have no specific plans at this time for further meetings to discuss this issue with any of the other groups mentioned in this question. However, I do maintain regular contact with them and this will provide an opportunity for further discussion of this topic if appropriate.

Whales: Japan

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Japanese government to end whale slaughter.

Richard Benyon: I attended last year's International Whaling Commission meeting in July (IWC64) where I made clear to Japan the strength of feeling in this country about the killing of all cetaceans, and of the UK Government's support for the moratorium on commercial whaling.
	The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), raised UK concerns in relation to Japanese whaling on a visit to Japan in January. British officials also regularly meet with Japanese officials both in London and Tokyo to express opposition to Japan's so-called 'scientific' whaling.

Wind Power

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will list the sites of (a) established and (b) proposed (i) on-shore and (ii) off-shore wind farms; and what the generation capacity is of each.

Gregory Barker: There are currently 44 offshore wind farms either operational, under construction, awaiting construction or awaiting a planning decision.
	For onshore wind there is currently 1,685 wind farms either operational, under construction, awaiting construction or awaiting a planning decision.
	Details of all these wind farms including generating capacity, along with all other renewable developments, are in the public domain and can be found on the Department’s Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD):
	https://restats.decc.gov.uk/app/reporting/decc/monthlyextract

Cancer

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what evaluation his Department (a) has made and (b) plans to make on patient satisfaction with the Cancer Care Review Process;
	(2)  what evaluation his Department (a) has made and (b) plans to make on what GPs have included as part of their Cancer Care Reviews;
	(3)  what proportion of those eligible did not receive a Cancer Care Review within six months of receiving confirmation of their diagnosis in the latest period for which figures are available.

Anna Soubry: Cancer reviews are carried out under the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), which is a voluntary part of the general practitioners (GPs) contract. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) are responsible for keeping QOF indicators under review and making recommendations for changes.
	In June 2012 NICE's independent QOF Advisory Committee reviewed the cancer review indicator. As a result, NICE published a recommendation in August 2012 that reviews should be carried out within three months of the practice receiving confirmation of a cancer diagnosis, rather than the current six months. This recommendation has been incorporated into the GP contract for 2013-14. Guidance, also developed by NICE, advises that as part of the review patients' health and support needs are considered, along with the co-ordination of care between sectors. The revised guidance for 2013-14 also refers to a template developed by Macmillan Cancer Support in collaboration with the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative to support GP practices in carrying out the review.
	QOF data for England for 2011-12 (the most recent available) show 8.1% of eligible patients did not receive a review within the six month period.
	More generally, the latest GP Patient Survey (2012) shows that 92% of patients reported as having cancer in the last five years rated their overall experience of their GP surgery as good compared to the general population rating of 88%.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has received reports of NHS trusts ceasing to prescribe Rivaroxaban in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis and prevention of recurrent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

Norman Lamb: We are not aware of any such reports. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published technology appraisal guidance recommending rivaroxaban as an option for treating deep vein thrombosis and preventing recurrent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism after a diagnosis of acute deep vein thrombosis in adults. National health service organisations are legally obliged to fund drugs and treatments recommended in NICE technology appraisal guidance. Decisions on the prescribing of medicines are a matter for clinicians in discussion with their patients.

Family Nurse Partnership Programme

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2013, Official Report, column 1059W, on Family Nurse Partnership Programme, how many (a) places and (b) applications to the programme there have been to date, by local authority.

Daniel Poulter: Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) is a voluntary programme targeted at first time mothers aged 20 and under.
	The following table shows the number of FNP places in England by upper tier local authority as of 1 March 2013. FNP is currently delivered in 91 upper tier local authority areas. The Government is committed to expanding the number of places on the FNP programme to 13,000 by 2015. This expansion will focus on bringing FNP to those areas currently without FNP, especially those that are most disadvantaged, as well as expansion in existing areas with the highest levels of deprivation.
	Young mothers are referred to the programme from a range of sources including self-referral, maternity services, general practitioners and other professionals. The number of individual referrals to FNP providers from all of these sources is not held centrally. Approximately 80% of mothers who were offered a place on the programme accepted it.
	
		
			  FNP places 
			 Barking and Dagenham 100 
			 Barnet 100 
			 Barnsley 150 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 100 
			 Birmingham 425 
			 Blackpool 100 
			 Bolton 100 
			 Bracknell Forest 50 
			 Bradford 200 
			 Brighton and Hove 100 
			 Buckinghamshire 100 
			 Calderdale 100 
			 Cambridgeshire 125 
			 Cheshire East 150 
			 Cheshire West and Chester 100 
			 Cornwall 200 
			 County Durham 200 
			 Coventry 175 
			 Croydon 100 
			 Cumbria 150 
			 Darlington 100 
			 Derby 200 
			 Derbyshire 200 
			 Doncaster 100 
			 Dudley 150 
			 Ealing 100 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 50 
			 East Sussex 300 
		
	
	
		
			 Essex 50 
			 Gateshead 100 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 75 
			 Haringey 100 
			 Hartlepool 50 
			 Hertfordshire 100 
			 Hounslow 100 
			 Kingston upon Hull 175 
			 Islington 100 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 25 
			 Kent 200 
			 Kirklees 175 
			 Knowsley 125 
			 Lambeth 125 
			 Leeds 225 
			 Leicester 150 
			 Lewisham 100 
			 Liverpool 150 
			 Manchester 250 
			 Medway 125 
			 Middlesbrough 50 
			 Milton Keynes 100 
			 Norfolk 225 
			 North East Lincolnshire 50 
			 North Lincolnshire 50 
			 North Yorkshire 50 
			 Northamptonshire 175 
			 Nottingham 225 
			 Nottinghamshire 200 
			 Oxfordshire 200 
			 Peterborough 100 
			 Plymouth 125 
			 Portsmouth 200 
			 Reading 75 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 50 
			 Rotherham 100 
			 Sandwell 150 
			 Sheffield 150 
			 Slough 50 
			 Solihull 50 
			 South Tyneside 100 
			 Southampton 125 
			 Southend-on-Sea 100 
			 Southwark 150 
			 Staffordshire 225 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 50 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 125 
			 Suffolk 75 
			 Sunderland 150 
			 Swindon 125 
			 Telford and Wrekin 100 
			 Tower Hamlets 150 
			 Wakefield 200 
			 Walsall 150 
			 Waltham Forest 100 
			 Warwickshire 175 
			 West Berkshire 25 
			 West Sussex 100 
			 Westminster 25 
			 Wigan 100 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 50 
		
	
	
		
			 Wirral 150 
			 Wokingham 25 
			 Total 11,475

Human Papillomavirus

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  for what reason parents of children about to receive the HPV vaccination are not given a copy of the relevant patient information leaflet prior to signing a consent form for vaccination;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy that parents should be given the option of providing consent for each HPV vaccination in the course of the three treatments.

Anna Soubry: Consent must be obtained before starting any medical treatment or physical investigation or before providing personal care for a patient. This includes the administration of vaccines.
	When seeking consent, it is important that the individual concerned is given sufficient information to enable them to make an informed decision and ensure consent is valid. In schools, information leaflets about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination should be available for the child's own use and to share with parents prior to the date on which the immunisation is scheduled. The model consent form for HPV vaccine makes this clear. Responsibility for providing this information locally rests with the local national health service organisation and immunisation provider involved.
	The model HPV form provides for consent to be given for all three doses of HPV vaccine. However, this is only an agreement for the child to be included in the immunisation programme and consent should be sought on the occasion of each immunisation visit. This consent may be given in writing, orally or by co-operation.
	Full guidance on issues around consent for immunisation is contained in the Department's publication, ‘Immunisation against Infectious disease’, also known as the 'Green Book'. A copy has been placed in the Library, along with copies of the Department's information leaflets on HPV vaccine.

Free School Meals

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all children in poverty receive free school meals; and what consultation he is planning on changes to the criteria for entitlement to free school meals.

David Laws: The Government recognises the benefits of healthy school meals and is committed to continuing to provide free school meals to those pupils who need them most. Our priority is to make sure that the most disadvantaged children are able to get a nutritious meal at school. The move to universal credit means that we need to introduce new criteria for free school meals, but these will not reduce the number of children eligible for free school meals.
	We will allow good time to enable schools, local authorities and children's charities to comment on our proposals before we introduce new eligibility criteria.

Alternatives to Prison

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to engage members of the public in decisions on the location and the nature of local community payback schemes.

Jeremy Wright: Members of the public are encouraged to identify Community Payback work projects for offenders. Public involvement in the identification of work projects for offenders helps to ensure that Community Payback provides tangible benefits to local communities. The Government is committed to opening up community sentences to a range of new providers. Future providers of Community Payback will be required to demonstrate that they are able to effectively engage with local communities, so that offenders effectively pay back to communities. The Government plans to increase the number of Community Payback work projects nominated by members of the public.
	The Ministry of Justice consultation on plans for reforming the way in which offenders are punished and rehabilitated in the community closed on 22 February. We will respond to the consultation and bring forward detailed plans in due course.

Legal Services Commission

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to his statement of 28 February 2013, on the Legal Aid Agency, what estimate he has made of the total number and amount of severance payments to members not transferred from the Legal Services Commission's legal department.

Jeremy Wright: No severance payments are due to be made to staff of the Legal Services Commissions legal department in the Legal Services Commission's abolition and the creation of the Legal Aid Agency on 1 April 2013.

Prisons

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to his plans to decommission 200 contractually crowded places at private prisons, from which prisons contractually crowded places will be decommissioned; and how much will be saved (a) per place and (b) overall.

Jeremy Wright: In his written ministerial statement of 10 January 2013, Official Report, columns 22-23WS, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), announced plans to decommission 200 contractually crowded additional prison places (APPs) at private prisons. After further work this has increased to 213 places.
	The following table details the prisons at which the places are being decommissioned and the total saving involved:
	
		
			 Prison Number of additional prison places being withdrawn Date by which they will be decommissioned Annual overall cost (£ million) 
			 Altcourse 75 1 April 2013 — 
			 Parc 138 29 July 2013 — 
			 Total 213 — Approx. 3.7 
		
	
	The individual cost of APPs at each prison is commercially confidential.
	The Government is committed to reducing the cost of imprisonment while driving down stubbornly high-reoffending rates. Our intention remains to have more adult male prison capacity available than we had in 2010 but at a much lower unit and overall cost.

Government Statistics

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the Government plan to respond to the recommendations of the Public Administration Select Committee report entitled “Public Trust in Government Statistics—A review of the operation of the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007”, HC 406, particularly in respect of pre-release access for Ministers.

Nick Hurd: The Government has received the Public Administration Select Committee's report and is considering it carefully. We will respond as soon as possible.

Lobbyists

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent progress the Government have made on publishing legislative proposals for a statutory register of lobbyists; and if he will make a statement.

Chloe Smith: The Government is committed to introducing a statutory register of lobbyists.
	We are continuing to carefully consider the evidence submitted in response to our consultation and will publish revised proposals in due course.

Cyber-security

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the involvement of small and medium-sized businesses in the national cyber-security programme.

Chloe Smith: Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of UK industry and as such we are taking steps to both protect businesses in general as well as fuelling the growth of SMEs in the cyber security sector through the National Cyber Security Programme.
	It is estimated that the cyber security market in the UK is worth around £3 billion and is expected to grow to £3.3 billion in 2015. We recognise that Government needs to support this sector which is why we have set up a Cyber Growth Partnership with Intellect, the ICT trade organisation representing over 850 SMEs.

Honours

Jim Dowd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what criteria are used when assessing the suitability of an individual for (a) a knighthood and (b) all other public honours.

Francis Maude: Honours are intended to recognise exceptional achievement and/or service.
	The currently used criteria and definitions are available publicly and can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/honours/types-of-honours-and-awards

Public Sector: Procurement

Nick Brown: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress the Government has made towards its target for involvement by small and medium-sized enterprises in public sector contracts.

Chloe Smith: Figures verified by Departments and published on 27 February show that central Government direct SME spend increased from £3.2 billion (6.8%) in 2010-11 to £4.4 billion (10%) in 2011-12.
	In addition, new Cabinet Office figures provided by major Government suppliers indicate that SMEs have in fact benefitted from a further 6% in indirect spend through the supply chain for 2011-12.

Public Sector: Procurement

Nick Brown: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what regulations govern the terms and conditions for prime contractors that sub-contract aspects of public sector contracts.

Chloe Smith: The public contracts regulations allow contracting authorities to ask prime contractors how much of the contract they intend to sub-contract and to whom.
	The Government requires Departments to specify, within contracts, that prime contractors should pay subcontractors within 30 days of receiving a valid invoice; and encourages prime contractors to advertise supply chain opportunities on Contracts Finder.

Bangladesh

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh.

Alistair Burt: The British Government supports the principle of holding to account those who may be guilty of war crimes. But we also believe that it is essential that any trial meets appropriate international standards. We note concerns from international non-governmental organisations and legal professionals and continue to call on the Bangladesh Government, publicly and privately, to ensure that trials meet appropriate international standards. With EU partners, the British Government also continues to make clear our strong opposition to the application of the death penalty in all circumstances.
	The Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend, the right hon. Baroness Warsi, raised our concerns about the International Crimes Tribunal and our absolute opposition to the death penalty in meetings with both the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Dipu Moni, during her visit to Bangladesh in February.

Bangladesh

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with human rights organisations regarding the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh.

Alistair Burt: Our officials in London and Dhaka regularly meet with human rights organisations to discuss a range of topics including the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh.
	The British Government takes human rights very seriously and follows progress closely, raising concerns where there are credible allegations. We welcome the Government’s assurances that they are committed to protecting human rights and recognise the positive progress that has been made across a range of social development indicators.
	The Senior Minister of State, my right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Warsi, raised our concerns about human rights with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, in February.

Bangladesh

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had at the United Nations regarding the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh.

Alistair Burt: We have had no recent discussions at the United Nations regarding the International War Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh.
	The British Government supports the principle of war crimes trials to hold to account those who may be guilty of crimes committed during the 1971 war. But we also believe that it is essential that any trial meets appropriate human rights standards. Defendants should be given a fair trial, including the right to conduct a proper defence, and trials should be open and transparent.
	We continue to call on the Bangladesh Government, publicly and privately, to ensure that trials meet appropriate international standards.

Bangladesh

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Bangladeshi Government regarding the International Crimes Tribunal in that country.

Alistair Burt: The Senior Minister of State, my right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Warsi, discussed the International Crimes Tribunal and reiterated our absolute opposition to the death penalty in meetings with both the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Dipu Moni, during her visit to Bangladesh in February.
	The British Government supports the principle of war crimes trials to hold to account those who may be guilty of crimes committed during the 1971 war. But we also believe that it is essential that any trial meets appropriate human rights standards. Defendants should be given a fair trial, including the right to conduct a proper defence, and trials should be open and transparent.

Bangladesh

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of allegations that the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh is not impartial.

Alistair Burt: We are aware of media reports regarding the impartiality of the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh. The British Government believes that it is essential that any trial meets appropriate international standards. We note concerns from international non-governmental organisations and legal professionals and continue to call on the Bangladesh Government, publicly and privately, to ensure that trials meet appropriate international standards. With EU partners, the British Government also continues to make clear our strong opposition to the application of the death penalty in all circumstances.
	The Senior Minister of State, my right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Warsi, raised our concerns about the International Crimes Tribunal and our absolute opposition to the death penalty in meetings with both the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Dipu Moni, during her visit to Bangladesh in February.

British Council

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of the reduction in funding for the British Council; and if he will make a statement.

Hugo Swire: Like other publicly funded bodies, the British Council has had to bear its share of cuts. The spending review reduced Foreign and Commonwealth Office Grant in Aid funding to the British Council to £154 million in 2014-15.
	In response, the British Council have set themselves ambitious targets to increase their overall turnover from £739 million in 2011-12 to £914 million in 2014-15. They aim to achieve these targets by increasing the share of activity funded through paid-for, contracted or partnered services.
	The Council are concentrating on their core areas of Arts; English; Education and Society, and are delivering more of their work in partnerships and through international education and development contracts, or through cooperation with state or federal Governments.

Burma

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Burmese Government on citizenship for the Rohingya in Burma.

Hugo Swire: I met Burmese Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin on 11 February, together with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) and the Minister of State, Department for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr Duncan). During the meeting, the need for a long-term resolution on citizenship for the Rohingya in Burma was raised. Concerns over the security situation, access for aid agencies, emergency accommodation and justice were also raised directly with the Burmese Foreign Minister.
	Our ambassador visited Naypyidaw on 6 and 7 March and raised the situation in Rakhine State with the Defence Minister, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Border Affairs. He asked about the prospects for a long-term political solution, including on citizenship for the Rohingya. He also pressed for urgent action on humanitarian needs as the rainy season approaches.
	British officials in Rangoon regularly visit Rakhine State to discuss the situation with both the Rakhine and Rohingya communities, most recently on 11 and 12 March.

Diplomatic Service

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many overseas missions his Department has (a) opened and (b) closed in each of the last three years.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is strengthening its diplomatic network significantly, deploying more staff to the fastest growing regions, upgrading existing posts and opening new ones. Ten new posts have been opened or upgraded since May 2010, in the following locations:
	
		
			 Date Country Post Change 
			 May 2012 Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan Political Office upgraded to Embassy 
			 October 2012 Madagascar Antananarivo British Interests Section upgraded to Embassy 
			 July 2012 Kyrgyzstan Bishkek New Embassy 
			 September 2012 Canada Calgary Trade office upgraded to Consulate General 
			 June 2012 India Hyderabad Trade office upgraded to Deputy High Commission 
			 July 2011 South Sudan Juba New embassy in new sovereign state 
		
	
	
		
			 November 2011 Brazil Recife Trade office upgraded to Consulate General 
			 November 2012 El Salvador San Salvador New Embassy 
			 October 2012 Laos Vientiane New Embassy 
			 January 2013 USA Seattle New UK Government Office 
		
	
	The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has made a commitment to retain all existing British embassies and high commissions throughout the life of this Parliament, but we have closed a number of consulates, listed below. In Europe we have changed our working methods to provide services to our customers in a more effective and efficient way, for example through the introduction of a Contact Centre in Malaga, which helps reduce consular calls to our posts in southern Europe.
	
		
			 Date Change Post Change 
			 September 2011 France Lille Consulate General closed (now covered from Paris) 
			 June 2012 France Lyon Consulate General closed and reopened as a trade office 
			 December 2011 Italy Florence Consulate closed 
			 September 2011 Italy Venice Consulate General closed 
			 October 2010 Switzerland Geneva Consulate General closed 
			 December 2012 Iraq Basra Consulate General closed 
		
	
	Our operations in Iran and Syria have been suspended in both countries for security reasons.

Kyrgyzstan

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to improve bilateral relations with Kyrgyzstan.

David Lidington: The UK has a good bilateral relationship with Kyrgyzstan, which we are committed to developing further. We were pleased to open a British embassy in Bishkek last year, with the UK's first resident ambassador accredited in March 2012. When he visited London in July 2012, the then Kyrgyz Prime Minister met a range of UK Ministers, including the Deputy Prime Minister, the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr Clegg). The Minister of State, Department for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr Duncan) and the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces, the hon. Member for North Devon (Sir Nick Harvey), made useful visits to Kyrgyzstan in October 2011 and March 2012 respectively. We are keen to maintain momentum in these senior level contacts. The Department for International Development (DfID) programme in Kyrgyzstan totals some £7 million per annum and is focused on improving governance and security, boosting regional trade and deepening democracy. In addition, the UK Government is contributing nearly £800,000 this year to projects aimed at conflict prevention issues. We and the Kyrgyz Government are keen to deepen cooperation in a range of areas including supporting Kyrgyzstan's reform programme, regional security, trade, parliamentary links and educational issues.

Mozambique

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking with the Mozambique Government to tackle the expropriation of mining licences held by UK mining companies and their subsidiaries in that country.

Mark Simmonds: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), underlined the importance of an open and conducive business environment when he met President Guebuza of Mozambique and Foreign Minister Baloi in London on 9 May 2012. My ministerial colleagues raise, as appropriate, the specific interests of British mining and other companies with the Mozambican Government, and will continue to do so. We also underline the importance of effective avenues for legal redress where disputes occur. Officials in both London and at the British high commission in Maputo are in regular contact with British companies with interests in Mozambique. Any British company which considers that its assets have been unlawfully expropriated has the option to consider pursuing a case in the local courts or under the UK-Mozambique Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement.

Mozambique

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Mozambique on the expropriation of mining licences held by UK mining companies and their subsidaries.

Mark Simmonds: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), underlined the importance of an open and conducive business environment when he met President Guebuza of Mozambique and Foreign Minister Baloi in London on 9 May 2012. My ministerial colleagues raise, as appropriate, the specific interests of British mining and other companies with the Mozambican Government, and will continue to do so.

Mozambique

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed with his counterpart in Mozambique the expropriation of UK mining licences in that country.

Mark Simmonds: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), underlined the importance of an open and conducive business environment when he met President Guebuza of Mozambique and Foreign Minister Baloi in London on 9 May 2012.

Mozambique

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received a verbal or written commitment from the Mozambique government on its willingness to investigate the expropriation of UK mining licences in that country.

Mark Simmonds: The Mozambique Government has given us no commitment to that effect. However, any UK company which considers that its assets in Mozambique have been unlawfully expropriated has the option to consider pursuing a case in the local courts or under the UK-Mozambique Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement.

Mozambique

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to discuss the issue of expropriated UK mining licences with the Mozambique government.

Mark Simmonds: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has no meetings currently scheduled with members of the Government of Mozambique. Any British company which considers that its assets in Mozambique have been unlawfully expropriated has the option to consider pursuing a case in the local courts or under the UK-Mozambique Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement.

Palestinians

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of depictions by the Palestinian Authority on maps of Israel as a Palestinian state and the compliance of that depiction with the Palestinian Authority's Quartet Principle commitment to recognise the state of Israel.

Alistair Burt: Depiction of the other on maps is an issue on both sides of Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For example, a recent study of Palestinian and Israeli textbooks found that 58% of maps in Palestinian textbooks and 76% of maps in Israeli textbooks made no reference to the other. There is a profound need for both the Israeli and Palestinian sides to do more to promote a positive portrayal of each other, reflecting the principles of co-existence, tolerance, justice and human dignity and the UK regularly condemns incitement on both sides, registering our concerns. However, the British Government believes that the track record of President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad shows they are genuinely committed to a non-violent pursuit of a two state solution.

South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the transparency mechanisms in place for consultations issued by the Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands.

Mark Simmonds: The British Government is satisfied that the consultation processes adopted by the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are transparent. In October last year, the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) posted a consultation document on its public website about potential additional protection measures within its Marine Protected Area. GSGSSI also directly notified organisations and individuals who had previously registered an interest in the Territory's Marine Protected Area. GSGSSI subsequently wrote to all those responding to the consultation process, prior to its announcement of additional protection measures within its existing Marine Protected Area, in January 2013.